HomeIllinois › Cortland

Cortland, Illinois

Town · Population 4,592 · #348 in Illinois
Cortland, Illinois

Cortland is an incorporated town in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,398 at the 2020 Census.

Photo & intro: Wikipedia

About Cortland

Cortland is a small town in northern Illinois, home to 4,592 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Officially, Cortland is an incorporated town — local government on a neighborly scale. The community covers 3.59 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,279 residents per square mile.

What Makes Cortland Unique

  • One of 5 places in the US named Cortland — but the Illinois one has a character all its own.
  • Positioned in northern Illinois, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
  • Part of the fabric of Illinois — one of 1,461 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

  • Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
  • Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
  • Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 5 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Cortland

  • Buffalo Wild Wings — wings
  • Caribou Coffee — coffee shop (café)
  • Egg Haven Cafe
  • Jamrah Middle Eastern Cusine — middle eastern
  • Los Rancheros — mexican
  • Noodles & Company — pasta
  • Shelby's
  • Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
  • Sam's Family Restaurant — regional
  • Texas Roadhouse — steak house

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Cortland

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Cortland

  • Cortland Elementary School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

TypeTown
Population (2024)4,592
Rank in state#348 of 1,294
Land area3.59 sq mi
Density1,279/sq mi
Coordinates41.9372, -88.6893

🗺️ Map of Cortland